Dragon Fruit

Water

Rain falls about 3 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

Needs about 660 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 520 mm it can use in a normal year, and 380 mm in a dry year.

Temperature

Grows best at 18–28 °C on average, and survives 12–34 °C.

Here, in its growing months (day / night):

• Jun 35 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
• Jul 31 °C / 22 °C
• Aug 30 °C / 21 °C
• Sep 30 °C / 21 °C
• Oct 31 °C / 20 °C
• Nov 30 °C / 17 °C
• Dec 29 °C / 14 °C
• Jan 30 °C / 15 °C
• Feb 34 °C / 17 °C
• Mar 37 °C / 21 °C (outside its best range)
• Apr 40 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
• May 41 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Jun 35 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)

Months in orange are outside its best range.

Days in April get hotter than it likes. Young plants need shade and water then.

Soil

Soil for Dragon Fruit: 8 out of 10 (good).

Not in the score: phosphorus.

• The pH here suits it.
• Many fields here are short of zinc, which it needs a lot.
• Many fields here are short of boron, which it needs a lot.
• Most fields here are short of sulphur.

Likes pH 5.3–6.7.

Money

Yield: about 22 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (its government crop records list none for your district).

A new planting gives its first real harvest after about 2 years. The money here is for plants already bearing.

On rain alone it gets about 78% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 78% of this yield.

No mandi or support price for this crop yet.